HAILED as the country’s most popular and successful director and choreographer, Matthew Bourne is the creator of the world’s longest running ballet production.
The five-time Olivier Award winner, and only British director to have won the Tony Award for both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical, Bourne’s Nutcracker! returns to the Theatre Royal Nottingham from May 1 to 5 May as part of an extensive UK tour.
Nutcracker! is a delicious theatrical feast which has family-sized helpings of Bourne’s trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy. The story follows Clara’s bittersweet journey from a hilariously bleak Christmas Eve at Dr Dross’ Orphanage, through a shimmering, iceskating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland.
Tchaikovsky’s score and Anthony Ward’s sets and costumes, combined with sizzling choreography create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the traditional favourite.
Bourne said: “To help celebrate this evergreen production’s 20th birthday, I have decided to cast the show with the next generation of New Adventures dancers, mostly making their debuts in these roles.
With popular productions such as Nutcracker! now returning to New Adventures’ repertoire on a regular basis, it seems only right to develop and nurture the incredible young talent that we have in the company by giving them bigger opportunities and challenges.
“I am, though, delighted to say that the cast includes our original Clara from 1992, Etta Murfitt, who along with several other New Adventures veterans, will guide and inspire the younger cast members.
“With the addition of several new dates, added recently, I am thrilled to announce our biggest ever UK tour.
Nutcracker! will be seen at a record-breaking 21 major venues, throughout the UK, made all the more remarkable, by the fact that this ‘seasonal’ favourite will still be entertaining audiences in mid-May.”
Tickets are available by calling 0115 989 5555. Further information is available by logging on to www.newadventures.net/nutcracker
